Practice Areas
Whether you are establishing custody for the first time or asking the court to change an order that no longer works, the decisions made now shape your daily life with your children for years. I help parents build a clear, evidence-based case for the arrangement that actually serves their children.
Is your special needs child turning 18 soon, or already an adult, with no one holding legal authority to make decisions for your child? Virginia allows you to file for guardianship as early as age 17. The same process can also protect an aging parent or loved one whose memory or mental health is declining.
If CPS (Child Protective Services) has contacted you or you already have an open case, you're probably anxious, angry, and worried about your children. With nearly 20 years of experience, including time representing Florida's child welfare agency in court, both early in my career and recently, I know how these cases are built and how to take them apart.
Support should reflect what your children actually need and what each parent can actually pay. I help clients establish, modify, and enforce support orders, and untangle the income, childcare, and health-insurance details that so often get calculated incorrectly.
Are you not allowed to see your children for more than a few hours a month? Does the other parent say the children are “busy” when you ask to see them? Has the other parent refused to agree to a set visitation schedule, or are you in a situation where you need to limit the other parent's contact to keep your children safe?
Are conflicts about time with your grandchildren tearing your family apart? Has a parent limited or cut off your relationship with them entirely? Virginia's grandparent visitation laws are narrow, but you may still have a legal path to maintain contact with your grands. I can help you understand where you stand.
When safety is on the line, timing matters. I represent clients seeking protective orders and clients defending against them, and I make sure the court hears an accurate, well-documented account of what has actually been happening.
Disagree with a ruling on custody, support, visitation, or a CPS case from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court? You may have the right to appeal to Circuit Court, but strict deadlines apply. I've successfully represented clients in circuit court appeals and can help you understand whether an appeal is the right move for you.
I represent clients statewide in uncontested and no-fault divorces.